It's got to be said that colette is more of a place to browse and get inspired than a place to do actual shopping, prohibitive prices aside. I always whizz around the mannequins touching garments but not wanting to dig out the price tags lest I knock over something and embarrass myself in a horrible way. I scootch around looking at whatever exhibition is going as there is inevitably some interesting collab/artist/photographer promo going on. Then I sheepishly walk back downstairs and buy a book or a mag and that's about it.
So after a few months of observing their newly launched e-shop and the way it has been structured and updated, I can finally see myself handing over solid cash (or online debit card payment) for colette's creative director Sarah Lerfel's vision (check out the insightful interview with Sarah on Ponystep). Sarah's choices for colette are reflected well on the new site, vastly updated from the standardised online giftshop site that it was before. Pieces are added daily and now I'd venture to say that a good 90% of what is available in-store is now online which makes it as an e-store to contend with all the other big guns - Browns, Net-a-Porter, Matches etc. The site also hosts special webstores for whatever collab/exclusives is going on in-store. For instance, The Selby's special exhibition tie-in webshop or the Barbie limited product store.
I'll of course still do my dumb routine of mindless wandering around just because it's one of those places that easily accomodates us non-Parisian penniless browsers. However, the website will at least give me a fighting chance of buying into Sarah's astute choices.
Colette Hearts London - Hussein Chalayan glasses, Meadham Kirchoff jacket, David David tee, Luella foulard, Gareth Pugh skirt, Gareth Pugh wedges
Colette Hearts New York - Moscot glasses, Marc Jacobs jacket, Thakoon dress, Proenza Schouler satchel and cut-out boots.
Colette = Paris - Maison Michel hat, Tao Comme des Garcons jacket, Lanvin tee, Yves Saint Laurent dress, Balmain boots, Azzaro bracelet, Lanvin cuff
Colette Hearts Collabs/Special Projects - Clements Ribeiro cardigan, Jeremy Scott x Adidas bra top, Lanvin x Acne jeans and ballet flats, Giles Deacon x Swarovski necklace
